Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium road test review

Cars generally have a lifespan of about seven years. Which means mid-life upgrades usually come around the third or fourth year on sale.

But Subaru has accelerated that process adding more gear and tweaking the styling of its latest generation Outback just over a year since arriving in showrooms.

For the trainspotters there are new daytime running lights integrated into the front fog lights and a new grille finish for the Premium and 3.6R models.

The biggest changes, however, come in the form of adding Subaru's EyeSight active safety suite as standard across the automatic range and including its Vision Assist safety items for its Premium and six-cylinder models.

2016 Subaru Outback. Photo: Supplied

So do these early upgrades make Subaru's SUV alternative more appealing?

Another upgrade is the navigation now comes with free annual upgrades for the first three years.

Aside from those added goodies there are still all the same standard items you got on the 2015 model. That includes 18-inch alloy wheels, electric sunroof, power tailgate, auto headlights and wipers, rear privacy glass, dual-zone air-conditioning, heated front seats, keyless entry and ignition, Bluetooth and a six-speaker stereo.

Subaru offers capped price servicing for all of its new models, covering the first three-years/75,000km. However, the intervals are shorter than most, at every six months or 12,500km. So over the covered period it will cost you $2202 to keep the Outback maintained.

What's inside?

A major upgrade in cabin presentation was one of biggest positives of the new Outback and thankfully nothing has changed for 2016.

The dashboard is well laid out and made from better materials than recent Subarus. Premium, soft touch plastics and high-quality metal-look finishes give the Outback a sophisticated interior ambience.

The seven-inch infotainment screen dominates the centre of dash and controls most of the infotainment functions. It is easy and intuitive to use thanks to the large soft-touch buttons on the side of the screen coupled with the large app-style buttons on the touchscreen itself.

The Outback is pitched as a lower-riding alternative to a full-size SUV, so space inside the cabin is important. While being a strict five-seater (competing against several seven-seat SUVs) the Outback offers excellent space front and rear for adults. Headroom is good, legroom is excellent in the back and there is also generous shoulder room; making it a genuine five-seater.

The seats are comfortable too with good support and adjustability.

The boot is a sizeable 521-litres and is long and wide making it capable taking large loads. A cargo blind is also standard to keep your luggage out of sight.

Under the bonnet

The 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is unchanged from 2015 and is still mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Power remains the same at 129kW with torque capped at 235Nm, which means the 1628kg Outback performs adequately without ever feeling particularly quick. It never feels underpowered but it does lack the low rev range pulling power of its turbocharged rivals - both petrol and diesel.

The CVT is one of the better versions of this type of transmission we've sampled. There is noticeably less engine flaring that often troubles CVTs.

Fuel use remains the same too at 7.3-litres per 100km on the combined cycle. It is helped by a relatively smooth stop-start system that features a handy counter that adds up the amount of time the engine is switched off for - if you like keeping track of things.

On the road

While the Outback sells itself as an SUV alternative, its strength, dynamically speaking, is that is based on the Subaru Liberty. That means it possess more car-like behaviour on the road, with less body lean in corners and sharper responses than its taller-bodied SUV competition.

However, if you do want to take it off beaten path it is equipped with Subaru's all-wheel drive system for better traction and 213mm of ground clearance for climbing over obstacles.

The ride quality is generally good with the suspension soaking up the bumps in the road, leaving the occupants comfortable and protected.

Verdict

While the early adopters of the 2015 model might be feeling a little stiff you can't criticise Subaru for adding more, potentially life-saving, equipment.

Importantly the driving character hasn't changed and the Outback still offers a spacious, family-friendly option for those who want the space and off-road capability of an SUV without the extra size and compromised on-road performance.